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Throwing Caution to the Wind in Half Moon BayBy Rita CookHalf Moon Bay in northern California is just the kind of place you will want to discover for your own special kind of adventure. It definitely inspired that feeling in us one afternoon as we drove the county miles looking for a place to get our marriage license. Albeit we (finally) found the license in Red Wood City and got married in the little chapel in San Jose’s courthouse, but it started in Half Moon Bay – romance and candlelight included and we hadn’t even planned it that way. Once we were there, however, we couldn’t deny that the place was magic. For starters we found that the Ritz-Carlton was a not only beautiful, but also as gracious of a place that we could ever find. For spas, it’s the best choice around and for food, well, let’s just say that the signature restaurant called Navio is still on my “top 10” list. We had the tasting menu paired with appropriate wines and we weren’t disappointed. Half Moon Bay is only about 30 miles from San Francisco, but it might as well be another continent what with the history and culture. In fact, Half Moon Bay is the oldest settlement in the area dating back to 1840. Of course there are many attractions around, but the wineries are certainly the most popular. Home to more than 80 wineries along the San Mateo coast, we visited two since northern California and wine go hand-in-hand. A stop at the Obester Winery is a good choice to check out the cellar. A ride into the Santa Cruz mountains to Thomas Fogarty Winery was our next stop where we both fell in love with the 2002 California Barbiola and the 2004 Monterey Gewurztraminer, but the pinot noir and chardonnay are what the winery is known for as well as the views of the San Francisco bay area. Oh yeah, and while the “he” part of our trip had never liked wine, Northern California changed his life forever. Nowadays, he can “feel” the emotion of the wine and has become quite a connoisseur, marriage will do that to you.
As for the “she,” well the ocean was okay, but not her thing out on it. However, overcoming the fear it is true that a trip out on the water is most appropriate. Try whale watching with Huli Cat, but keep in mind that sometimes the weather is not kind.
With the history in the area being quite rich the historical society in town is quite active. A self-guided walking tour names more than 50 historical homes, churches, bridges and cemeteries including The James Johnston House, Graveyard Hill Cemetery, Estanislao Zaballa House, Angelo Boitano’s General Merchandise Store and Saloon, Half Moon Bakery and Half Moon Bay Jail. Unwind and just shop and eat in downtown Half Moon Bay where you can take in a few meals at either Pasta Moon (again, the wine is superb) or dinner at Kitchen + Cocktails on Main Street. If it had not been raining we had planned on taking a
carriage to dinner by way of Carriage De Corriere so find some of your own
romance this way and then check into the Mill Rose Inn, a good place to spend
the last few nights on your trip. A final stop at Pillar Point Harbor will round your trip off nicely as it is a working fishing harbor and Marine Sanctuary. You can watch the fishermen unload their catches of the day including squid, crabs, salmon, rockfish, albacore tuna and halibut, a smorgasbord and you know your dinner will be fresh that night. Indeed, Half Moon Bay is the sort of destination you will speak fondly of for years to come and get back to as often as possible to reminisce of those amorous days that really don’t have to be long gone. |
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Beaches and, of course, the water are a thing you can’t get
away from in this part of the country and you will find sandy beaches that
stretch into rocky shorelines with tidepools and keep an eye open for sea
otters, sea lions and elephant seals.
For those who want to stay on dry land its horseback
riding, hiking or perhaps bird watching and
biking is more your thing. The redwood trees are also native to the central and
northern California coast and Purissima Creek Trails is a favorite place to find
the tallest trees on earth.
With landscaping that is reminiscent of an
old English country garden and rooms filled with corner reading nooks,
fireplaces and wine and cheese every afternoon, it really does seem like a home
away from home.
